Apart from her athletic achievements, Brown also contributed significantly to the development of ringette equipment. Brown is recognized for her role in helping to develop the Keely glove, which was designed to provide better protection and grip for ringette goalies.
Early life
Keely Brown was born and raised in Canada and displayed a keen interest in sports at an early age, taking up ringette, a sport that was gaining popularity in the country. She eventually honed her skills as an ice hockey goaltender and then broadened her experience by participating in in-line hockey.
Education
Brown completed a four-year undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology with a women's studies minor at the University of Toronto, after which she went on to Osgoode Hall Law School and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2003.[4]
Apart from her achievements on the ice, Brown also worked to improve ringette goaltending equipment. She found that available equipment did not provide adequate protection or grip for ringette goaltenders. Brown collaborated with a company called McKenney to develop a new ringette goalie trapper, known colloquially as "the Keely glove", that addressed these issues.[7][8] The Keely glove was a significant advancement in ringette goaltending equipment, is still used by many athletes today, and has been developed for both senior and junior goalies. In 2021, a custom Keely glove was created for Callie Bizuk, a one-armed ringette goalie from Alberta.[9][10]
Ringette goalie school
Keely Brown, along with Heather Konkin, established their own company called 5-Count Ringette Goalie Instruction.[11][5] The company had a team of 25 skilled instructors who provided top-tier goalie training for ringette players all over Canada. The company's range of services encompassed goalie camps, clinics, and ice times, which were held from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island. Their main aim was to offer exceptional training to ringette goalies of all ages and abilities. Additionally, Brown authored a book titled "The Complete Guide to Ringette Goaltending."
Previously, a "5-Count Ringette Goalie Award" awarded up to two $250 each year to enrolled athletes who were actively playing as goalkeepers. The money was to be utilised for a one-of-a-kind opportunity that would help them as a goaltender, their team, and/or in ringette in general. The rewards were made possible by the generosity of Keely Brown, Heather Konkin, and the programme they co-founded, 5-Count Ringette Goalie Instruction.[12]
Brown's skills as a goalie were recognized early on. Brown started playing inline hockey (a.k.a. roller hockey) during her first year of university and eventually joined the Canadian Women's National Inline Hockey team. She helped the team win a gold medal at the 2002 FIRS Inline Hockey World Championships held in Rochester, New York. During her inline career, she helped Canada win 4 gold medals: in 2002, 2004, and 2005 as Team Canada goaltender,[13] and finally two golds as one of the team's assistant coaches in 2012[14] and 2016.
Ice hockey
High school
Brown made history as the first female to play high school boys hockey in Central Western Ontario where she played as a goaltender.
Brown is recognized as one of the greatest goaltenders in both ringette and women's inline hockey. She was inducted into the Ringette Canada Hall of Fame in 2014 in the Athlete category.[5] She was inducted into the
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.[16] Brown continues to promote and develop ringette and other sports.
